Continuous wave DFB lasers

A continuous wave (CW) distributed feedback (DFB) laser is a semiconductor light source that emits a constant, uninterrupted, unmodulated beam of a precise wavelength. A built-in grating structure provides distributed optical feedback along the laser cavity, enabling stable single-wavelength operation with low spectral noise. When used in optical interconnects, it enables cost-effective, low-power consumption, high-capacity optical transmission over short distances, making it particularly well suited for connectivity inside AI data centers. 

For intra-data center applications, CW DFB lasers typically operate in the O-band, where fiber dispersion is minimal. They are typically used in short-reach IMDD (Intensity Modulation Direct Detection) optical links, paired with a modulator, such as one integrated into a silicon photonics front end, that varies the light intensity to encode data using modulation schemes such as PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4-Level).

Leveraging the unique capabilities of its U.S.-based optical semiconductor fab, Nokia's InP CW DFB laser technology provides best in class devices for intra-datacenter connectivity.

Nokia high-power CW DFB lasers are designed for use in optical pluggable transceivers, combined typically with a silicon photonics modulator in the transmit path.

They deliver the low relative intensity noise, spectral purity, stability and output power to enable efficient optical transmission.

Key features:

• Designed for O-band CWDM4
• 75~100 mW optical output power
• Support uncooled operation
• Suitable for non-hermetic packages
• Compact format, suitable for integration into OSFP modules
• Excellent reliability
• High-volume manufacturing

Applications:

• 400G DR4 and FR4 pluggable modules
• 800G DR8, DR4 and 2xFR4 pluggable modules
• 1.6T DR8 and 2xFR4 pluggable modules